Replacable pen tip mounts

ABSTRACT

Several embodiments of replaceable mounting structures for the pen heads of recording pen systems are disclosed. A pen tip is secured in a mounting chamber which is attached to a capillary ink feed tube through a ink transfer mounting block having inserts for securing the pen tube and the pen tip mounting chamber thereto.

[ 51 Dec. 11, 1973 1 REPLACABLE PEN TIP MOUNTS "[76] -Inventor: Aubrey R. Tullos, 1510 Haywood Ave., Odessa, Tex. 79760 [22] Filed: Apr. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 243,004

[52] US. Cl. 346/140, 285/179 [51] Int. Cl. G0ld 15/16 [58] Field of Search 346/140; 285/179, 285/150, 156

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 492,159 2/1893 Harrington 285/179 X 2,793,912 5/1957 Krohm 285/179 X 3,327,315 6/1967 Felton 346/140 2,775,502 12/1956 2,829,026 4/1958 3,120,215 2/1964 3,644,933 2/1972 Tullos et a1. 346/140 Primary Examiner-Joseph W. Hartary Attorney-William A. Strauch et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT Several embodiments of replaceable mounting structures for the pen heads of recording pen systems are disclosed. A pen tip is secured in a mounting chamber which is attached to a capillary ink feed tube through a ink transfer mounting block having inserts for securing the pen tube and the pen tip mounting chamber thereto.

11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBEB 11 ms 3,778,843

SHEET 1 BF 2 ======1MWW PMENTED DEC 1 1 i975 SHEET 2 CF 2 1 REPLACABLE PEN TIP MOUNTS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Capillary pen systems, pen heads, and inking pen constructions in which and with which the present invention may be used are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,644,933 issued Feb. 22, 1972 for Reservoir Type Inking Pen System; U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,070 issued Mar. 28, 1972 for Nested Sleeve Recording Pen Head; and in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 222,047 filed Jan. 31, 1972 for inking Pen Constructions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is designed for use with a wide variety of recorder apparatuses employing a capillary ink feed system for drawing extremely fine lines on stationary or driven charts such as timed movement drum or circular recording charts. Usually, the inking pen itself used in such capillary feed systems includes a capillary pen tube connected to an ink supply via a thin flexible capillary tube, and a pen tip'mounting chamber into which a pen tip is inserted, e.g., by a spigotted connection, the chamber being mounted at the discharge end of the pen tube. The pen tube is mounted on the sweep recording arm of the recorded apparatus. A more complete description of such components may be found in the above-mentioned related U.S. Patents and pending application.

Ease of replacement of pen tip together with lower cost pen tubes are areas where prior art structures can be improved. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,405,409 discloses a recorder pen arm having a unitary ink pen head threaded through a collar 8 at the end of the arm, with a pen tip mounted over the end of the head. However, replacement requires removal of the'pen head, thereby creating the likely possibility of spillage of ink. U.S. Pat. No. 1,179,925 discloses multiple components constituting a pen head,.frictionally secured together by a threaded bolt 23. By definition, a friction-held assembly is unstable in use and may be difficult to disassemble due to jamming of parts. Furthermore, neither of the prior patents just discussed discloses a capillary ink feed system of the type with which the present invention is especially, but not exclusively, adapted for use. U.S. Pat. No. 2,829,026 discloses a pen head assembly threaded onto a capillary pen tube, but the tube itself still has two right angle bends, such bends being difficult and expensive to form.

In contradistinction to those prior art devices, the present invention provides an ink transfer mounting block for both the pen head assembly and the capillary pen'tube which maybe internally threaded to receive the pen head, pen tube, or both components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of this invention resides in the provision of novel mounting structure for the pen head assembly of a capillary pen system.

It is a further objdct of the invention to provide a novel ink transfer block between the pen tube and pen head assembly of a capillary pen system which eliminates the need of bending 'o'r forming the pen tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel ink transfer block between the pen tube and pen head assembly of a capillary pen system which is detachably connected to one or both structures.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel ink transfer block between the pen tube and pen head assembly of a capillary pen system which includes an-ink conduit tube from the block to the pen head assembly.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel ink transfer block between the pen tube and pen head assembly of a capillary pen system which may be of cylindrical configuration or square in cross-section to be engaged by a tool for replacement and/or removal from the system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting structure for the recorder pen of a capillary pen system having a pen tip mounting chamber with a writing tip spigotted into the chamber, and a lateral passageway for insertion of a pen tube, communicating ink from an ink supply to the chamber and tip.

- Further novel features and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Preferred structural embodiments of this invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial diagrammatic view illustrating an ink pen system in a recording apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pen arm shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned exploded view of the writing pen assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIGS. 4 through 9 inclusive are partially sectioned views each illustrating an embodiment of a mounting structure of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The various embodiments of pen head mounting structure are particularly useful with an inking pen system including an ink supply in the form of a bottle 10 retained on a steel wire hanger 12 by an encircling steel band or clip 14. In the exemplary system, bottle 10 is preferably made of resilient plastic and is vertically selectively positionable along the length of hanger 12 to assure proper ink flow. Stopper 16 supports a vertically oriented capillary stinger 18 which is inserted into the bottle 10. A length of fine diameter, extremely flexible plastic tubing 20 serves as a conduit communicating ink from the supply or bottle 10 to a pen tube 22 of writing pen assembly 24. Assembly 24 has a pen head assembly 26 which has a writing tip 28 spigotted up into the bottom of a pen tip mounting chamber 30. The laterally disposed pen tube 22 is bent at about a angle at its outer end to properly vertically orient the pen assembly 26 over a circular chart 32. Pen tube 22 is mounted on recorder arm 34 of a circular chart recorder (not shown) which normally rotates chart 32 by a timed drive and produces a timed recording in conjunction with sweep movement of recorder arm 34 which is responsive to some condition being recorded.

Preferably, both stinger l8 and pen tube 22 are made of stainless steel capillary tubing with extremely small dimensions (0.0344 inch O.D. X 0.023 inch LD.) while the plastic tubing 20 is made ofTygon plastic (0.059 inch O.D. X 0.028 inch I.D.); in both cases, dimensions are not critical.

FIG. 3 illustrates a writing pen assembly including a pen tip28', a mounting chamber 30, into which pen tip 28 is spigotted, and a pen tube 22, bent through 90 as shown to properly vertically orient the pen tip 28 over the writing surface of the chart. Pen tube 28 is externally threaded at 36 and, correspondingly, pen tip mounting chamber 30 is internally threaded at for detachably engaging the pen tube 22 and the chamber together. Pen tip 28, as illustrated, comprises a bundle of stranded natural or synthetic material, inherently defining a multitude of fine capillary ink passageways to assure ink flow through the tip, although other pen tip materials can be used. Additionally, the tip 28 has a secondary ink reservoir 40 formed therein which assures a constant, uninterrupted ink source for the writing pen. There are other ways in which the secondary ink reservoir can be provided as is shown in the previously mentioned pateiits and application.

Whenever capillary tubing is bent, e.g., the 90 bend in tube 22 as shown in FIG. 3, the forming must be accomplished carefully to assure that the minute capillary passageway therein is not crushed closed during the bend forming process. Rejects cause cost increase. One means of eliminating the bend is to provide a novel ink transfer block 42 (FIGS. 4; 6-9) having one bore 44, for receiving the end of pen tube 22, and a second bore 46, for receiving a secondary ink tube connection 48 which transmits ink to the mounting chamber 30 of the writing pen assembly 24; the intersection of bores 44 and 46 providing a'common passageway 50 enabling fluid communication of ink from one bore to the other.

Ink transfer block 42 may be threadably connected to pen tube 22, as shown, but it may be silver soldered thereto or formed integrally with the tube (not shown). In other embodiments, ink tube connection 48 may be threaded to both the pen head chamber 30 and block 42 (FIG. 4), or formed integrally with block 42 and threaded to the pen head chamber 30 (FIG. 6) or be formed integrally with chamber 30 and threaded to block 42 (FIG. 8). Alternatively, ink tube connection 48 may be silver soldered to ink block 42 and threaded to the pen head chamber 30 (FIG. 7) or silver soldered to the pen head chamber 30 and threaded to ink block 42 (FIG. 9). In each case, at least one easily detachable connection is provided for removal and replacement of a worn tip and pen head chamber, and the 90 bend usually required in pen tube 22 can be eliminated, both advantages being provided by the ink transfer block assembly 42. i

Block 42 may be cylindrical in external configuration, or essentially block shaped (square in crosssection) so that 'it may be easily engaged by a wrench (not shown) for removal from either the pen tube 22 or the pen tip mounting chamber 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the ink transfer block 42 is not needed in all embodiments. Instead the pen head chamber.30 of this embodiment is provided with a laterally disposed threaded bore 52 for threadably receiving the end of pen tube 22. Again, the need for a 90 bend in tube 22 is eliminated, yet the pen tip and chamber may be easily removed for replacement.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope, spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The plural embodimentshere.

vention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. i

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. For use in combination with an inking pen system in recorder apparatus which has an ink supply and ink conduit means from the ink supply, a pen assembly comprisingza pen tube adapted to be connected in fluid communication with the ink conduit means said pen tube comprising the major portion of said pen assembly; a pen head assembly having a writing tip thereon; and ink transfer block means for interconnecting said pen tube and pen head assembly, said ink transfer block means including means defining a pair of bores in common fluid communication internally of said block means, said bores being disposed at an angle, one to the other, in a plane normal to a surface being written upon, to divert fluid flow from the long axis of said pen tube downwardly toward said pen head and the surface being written upon, said ink transfer block means being located immediately adjacent and substantially above said pen head assembly, at the outer end of said pen tube, whereby easy replacement of said pen head assembly is provided without need of replacing the major portion of said pen assembly.

2. The pen assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said pen tube outer end is inserted in one of said bores, and said pen head assembly includes an external tubular connector inserted in the other of said bores.

3. The pen assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of said bores is internally threaded, and said pen tube outer end is threaded and received in said one threaded bore.

4. The pen assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of said bores is internally threaded, said external tubular connector is threaded at both ends, and is threadably secured to said threaded bore in said'ink transferblock means and in said pen head assembly.

5. The pen assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said external tubular connector is formed integrally with said pen head assembly.

6. The pen assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said external tubular connector is received in and silver soldered to said pen head assembly.

7. The pen assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said external tubular connector is received in and silver soldered to an ink transfer block means bore.

8. The pen assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said pen tube outer end is inserted in one of said bores, and said means defining the other of said bores includes an external tubular connector formed integrally with said ink transfer block means.

9. The inking pen system as recited in claim 2, wherein said pair of bores are disposed at a angle, one to the other, in a common plane.

10. The inking pen system as recited in claim 2, wherein said ink transfer' block means is externally configured as a vertically disposed cylinder.

11. The inking pen system as recited in claim 2, wherein said ink transfer block is substantially square in cross-section, normal to the pen head connecting UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, D d December 11,

Inventzm:(s) v Aubrey R. Tullos It is certified that' error appears in the above-identified patent and that: said Letters Patent are" hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, 'line 7, delete --at-- after "threaded".

er claim,. delete "l6" and insert Column 4 line 51, aft

Signed and sealed this 16th day of April 19%..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD ILFLETCHERJR. v c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer 1 1 Commissioner of Patents.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patenfi 3,778,843 Dated December 11, 1973 Inventofls) Aubrey R. Tullos I It is certified that' error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: 7

Column 3, 'line 7, delete --at-- after "threaded".

Column 4 line 51, after claim,'. delete "l6" and insert Signed and sealed this 16th day of A ril 19m,

(SEAL) Attest':

EDWARD PLFLETCIERJR. c. MARSHALL DANN. Atte sting Officer- Commissioner of' Patents. 

1. For use in combination with an inking pen system in recorder apparatus which has an ink supply and ink conduit means from the ink supply, a pen assembly comprising: a pen tube adapted to be connected in fluid communication with the ink conduit means said pen tube comprising the major portion of said pen assembly; a pen head assembly having a writing tip thereon; and ink transfer block means for interconnecting said pen tube and pen head assembly, said ink transfer block means including means defining a pair of bores in common fluid communication internally of said block means, said bores being disposed at an angle, one to the other, in a plane normal to a surface being written upon, to divert fluid flow from the long axis of said pen tube downwardly toward said pen head and the surface being written upon, said ink transfer block means being located immediately adjacent and substantially above said pen head assembly, at the outer end of said pen tube, whereby easy replacement of said pen head assembly is provided without need of replacing the major portion of said pen assembly.
 2. The pen assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said pen tube outer end is inserted in one of said bores, and said pen head assembly includes an external tubular connector inserted in the other of said bores.
 3. The pen assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of said bores is internally threaded, and said pen tube outer end is threaded and received in said one threaded bore.
 4. The pen assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of said bores is internally threaded, said external tubular connector is threaded at both ends, and is threadably secured to said threaded bore in said ink transfer block means and in said pen head assembly.
 5. The pen assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said external tubular connector is formed integrally with said pen head assembly.
 6. The pen assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said external tubular connector is received in and silver soldered to said pen head assembly.
 7. The pen assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said external tubular connector is received in and silver soldered to an ink transfer block means bore.
 8. The pen assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said pen tube outer end is inserted in one of said bores, and said means defining the other of said bores includes an external tubular connector formed integrally with said ink transfer block means.
 9. The inking pen system as recited in claim 2, wherein said pair of bores are disposed at a 90* angle, one to the other, in a common plane.
 10. The inking pen system as recited in claim 2, wherein said ink transfer block means is externally configured as a vertically disposed cylinder.
 11. The inking pen system as recited in claim 2, wherein said ink transfer block is substantially square in cross-section, normal to the pen head connecting bore. 